A Note to Amazon Readers from Joy Bauer

Deciding to take action towards a healthier lifestyle will improve nearly every aspect of your life. I?ve witnessed the effect weight loss can have from personal clients and from Joy?s Fit Club members, those determined dieters who on their own, without my help, took off between 100 and 300 pounds...and kept it off. They went from channel surfing to paddling a kayak, running marathons and triathlons, and hiking across Europe. They feel so healthy and energized that they get remarried on a Caribbean beach, play ball with their kids, discover hidden talents, and even forge new careers. Starting an effective weight loss plan is the best gift you?ll ever give yourself.

I believe that if you are going to expend all that energy, you should get something more than broken promises, disappointment, or a temporary drain of water weight. You deserve to get something spectacular for your efforts. That?s why I created Joy?s LIFE Diet, so you can Look Incredible and Feel Extraordinary. Imagine waking up each morning feeling rested and alert, loving the way your body looks, and enjoying a steady flow of energy and enthusiasm.

It is important that you realize that starting a diet is not an act of defeat. Beginning the LIFE diet is an act of courage and hopefulness and success! It means you haven?t given up on yourself. Your search for the right diet has brought you here, which means you have already done the initial work. Congratulations--you have that passion for action!

Now, if you are willing to invest even a fraction of the energy you?ve already given to all the other diets you?ve probably tried, you can Look Incredible and Feel Extraordinary. LIFE--it is my personal code, and it can be yours, too.

LIFE Dark Chocolate Cherry Muffins

1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon real maple syrup
1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce
3/4 cup fat-free milk
1 tablespoon strong coffee
3 large egg whites
3/4 cup fat-free vanilla yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1-1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2/3 cup dried cherries

Heat oven to 325°F. Prepare muffin pan with muffin liners and spray with nonstick spray. Combine dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the wet ingredients: maple syrup, apple sauce, milk, coffee, vanilla, egg whites, and yogurt. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir well to combine. Stir in the cherries. Fill the muffin cups 3/4 full with batter. Bake at 325°F for 20 to 25 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. The muffins can be frozen in an air-tight container, sealed freezer bag, or individually wrapped for up to 2 months. For best results, freeze muffins immediately after baking and cooling to room temperature. Makes 12 muffins.